Valentina’s eyes darkened with a chilling, calculated gleam, her every movement grounded in that ruthless instinct that marked her place in the criminal hierarchy. She turned away from Elena, calling over her shoulder, “Follow my lead. You don’t want to be left guessing around here.”
As they slipped through the maze of the dimly lit club, every corridor and shadow seemed alive, the energy thick with the whispered dealings that fueled the family’s power. Valentina led Elena past two men standing guard—men who sized them up with a nod, their eyes veiled with respect and a hint of wariness. Valentina’s reputation preceded her.
“Elena,” she murmured low, barely audible. “Stay close, keep your eyes sharp. They’ll eat up the sight of you if you let them, and not in the way you’d prefer.”
“Do you mean like you?” Elena countered, her voice just loud enough to taunt but soft enough to be ignored by the guards. “Or are you trying to keep me all to yourself?”
Valentina smirked, her gaze flashing back to Elena with dangerous allure. “Keep pushing, and you’ll see what happens to those who don’t know when to stop.”
Elena’s lips parted in a challenging smile, but before she could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the hall. Two men approached, each more formidable than the last, eyes narrowed and armed with an unsettling confidence. They recognized Valentina immediately, but their sneers lingered a moment too long on Elena.
“Fresh recruit?” one of them asked, his voice laced with amusement. “Looks a little soft for your usual taste, Valentina.”
“Don’t worry about her,” Valentina replied, her tone icy. “She’s got more grit than you’ll ever know. Just keep your nose where it belongs.”
One of the men stepped closer, his hand sliding to the holster at his side. “That’s funny, Valentina. You bringing in outsiders? Thought you had more sense.”
Elena felt the tension thickening, but she caught the faintest twitch of a smile at the corner of Valentina’s mouth, a promise of danger.
“Let me handle him,” Elena murmured, stepping forward just enough to catch the man’s gaze with her own.
Valentina’s fingers grazed Elena’s shoulder, stopping her, but her eyes sparkled with intrigue. “You want to play? Go on then.”
The man laughed, drawing himself up to his full height. “Think you can intimidate me?”
Elena’s fingers flexed, itching for her usual tools—a keyboard, a line of code. But tonight, she let her voice cut through instead. “I don’t need to intimidate you,” she said, her tone biting and smooth. “But if you want to see where loyalty gets you, maybe you should try underestimating me again.”
A beat of silence passed, heavy with unspoken threats. The man’s sneer faltered, and he took a step back, muttering under his breath as he returned to his post.
Valentina chuckled softly, leaning in close to Elena’s ear as they moved past. “Not bad for a hacker. Keep up that energy, and you’ll have the whole family wondering if you’re as dangerous as you look.”
“Was that approval I heard?” Elena whispered back, enjoying the spark of challenge in her own voice.
“Don’t push it,” Valentina replied, but there was a warmth in her tone that made Elena’s stomach flip.
As they entered a private room in the back, a group of high-ranking family members awaited them around a table strewn with stacks of cash and a few choice weapons. Valentina nodded curtly at the men, exchanging looks that spoke of silent agreements and shared secrets.
“Good to see you’ve brought company, Valentina,” one of the men said, his eyes trailing from Elena’s face to her every movement. “We’ve got a… delicate issue, and we need someone with a soft touch.”
Valentina scoffed, crossing her arms. “If you want subtlety, she’s the one you call. But don’t expect her to sit back if things get dirty.”
Elena shot her a sidelong glance, aware of Valentina’s guarded compliment. “Why don’t you tell us what you need?” she said, her voice steady.
One of the men grunted, sliding a folder across the table. “This is an encryption that’s beyond our usual skill set. Locked away something valuable. Our sources say only a select few hackers could crack it. Valentina vouched for you, so don’t make her regret it.”
Elena scanned the folder, her mind already working through the challenges. The encryption was layered, military-grade and relentless—enough to keep most hackers busy for days. But that was her specialty. “Give me two hours.”
Valentina’s lips curled in a smirk as she leaned closer. “If you don’t crack it, Elena, you’ll answer to me.”
Elena tilted her head, her smile both mocking and provocative. “I look forward to disappointing you.”
Valentina’s gaze lingered, and for a moment, her hand brushed against Elena’s, a subtle connection charged with unspoken understanding. It was brief, almost imperceptible, yet Elena felt its intensity like a spark. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Valentina’s words, teasing as they were, held a promise—and perhaps a warning.
The men at the table shifted, clearing their throats as the tension mounted. “Well,” one of them finally said, his voice breaking the silence, “let’s hope she’s as good as you say, Valentina. We don’t have time for amateurs.”
Valentina’s gaze hardened as she faced the man. “You’ll keep that tone to yourself. Elena’s here because I say so. Anyone who doubts her can take it up with me.”
The man quickly averted his gaze, a nervous chuckle escaping. “No offense meant. Just… a lot riding on this.”
Valentina’s expression softened only slightly. “Then give her the space to work, or find yourself a new job.”
The men fell silent, exchanging uneasy glances, and Elena could sense the quiet respect Valentina commanded within the room. They might not have trusted Elena yet, but they feared and respected Valentina enough to hold their tongues.
The room fell into a heavy silence as Elena opened her laptop, the screen casting a blue light over her face as she began typing, fingers flying over the keys with precise focus. She felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as the code lines flickered on the screen, each layer of encryption a barrier she couldn’t wait to tear down.
Valentina leaned back, arms crossed, a protective presence by Elena’s side. She glanced at the men across from them, her gaze sharp and uncompromising, as if daring anyone to voice a word against her chosen hacker.
Elena smirked to herself, heart pounding as she realized that with Valentina, it was no longer just a job—it was a partnership, dangerous and exhilarating, and one that neither of them could walk away from now.
